Stand-off over arts venue close to solution By ANDREW EATON for The Scotsman

A ROW between Scottish Ballet and Scotland’s visual arts community showed signs of being defused yesterday, following what was called a "positive" meeting of the two parties.

The meeting was the first sign that Scottish Ballet may be willing to compromise on its plan to take over Glasgow’s Tramway arts venue. The plan, which would currently mean the closure of Tramway 2, one of Europe’s most renowned exhibition spaces, has provoked outrage from artists.

Warning of ‘riots in streets by artists’ over funding bids By PHIL MILLER for The Herald (Scotland)

ARTISTS and curators in Glasgow fear they could lose out twice in a worst-case scenario of funding decisions which would devastate their sector. Scottish Ballet has asked the Scottish Arts Council for about £4m to transform the Tramway 2 site into its new headquarters....

Is it typical for people in Scotland to behave so vehemently over such an arts issue? Or is it just because the visual artist feel disenfranchised? Coming from a dance point of view, visual art can be done anywhere, but dance has greater needs of space an floor. I'm sure a visual artist could put me straight as to the needs of a visual arts space.

No rush to judgment about Tramway Letter in The Herald from Graham Berry, Director, Scottish Arts Council

WEDNESDAY'S letter about Tramway and the need for consultation referred to the appointment of Bonnar Keenlyside by Glasgow City Council to review the governance, role, and future of Tramway. This work will take account of the Scottish Ballet proposal to utilise derelict land to rehouse its rehearsal, administrative, and education spaces, while retaining the Tramway 2 exhibition space.

This week marks the 16th anniversary of the death of Peter Darrell, the founder choreographer of Scottish Ballet. It also sees the disposal of another two sets of scenery, Cinderella and Swan Lake, from his repertoire.

What we want for Christmas By TEDDY JAMIESON and SUSAN SWARBRICK for The Herald

Ashley Page, Director, Scottish Ballet The first thing that springs to mind is more money for the company. Finance is the biggest problem we have. And more money would be the thing that would be most beneficial to me.

Since taking over as artistic director of Scottish Ballet in September 2002, former Royal Ballet dancer Ashley Page has been credited with revitalising a fatigued national company. He launched the revamped company with a confident quadruple-bill for the autumn tour; and his new production of The Nutcracker opened to acclaim earlier this month.

Next month, the Scottish Ballet education team will tour primary schools in Glasgow to carry out workshops with the current production of The Nutcracker.

For Lorna Pickford, head of education at Scottish Ballet, going into schools and teaching pupils about ballet has a value beyond simple cultural enrichment.

"Dance is a subject that is sadly neglected in schools," she explains, "Our dance education programme provides a wonderful opportunity. There are the actual benefits of taking part in physical exercise and taking part in the creative process.

STAFF at Scottish Ballet have warned its board that the crisis enveloping Scottish Opera could spread to the national dance company. A leaked internal memo, sent to ballet board members, who also run the opera, shows staff are unhappy over plans to reorganise its management structure, raising strike fears.

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